Frank Sciulli

Though this class is technically intended for students who do not have a background in physics, like myself, it is close to impossible to grasp the amount of required material in one semester. Ontop of that Sciulli does not make it any easier. Firstly, his lectures are straight out of the amazingly horrible text book. except for the occasional video clip. Out of the over 100 students in the class only a good 1/3 bothered showing up to lectures mostly cause they already knew everything. The only good thing about going to the lectures is that some of his demos were interresting. Otherwise he breezed through about 15 chapters of the book and spent forever on the easiest things like thermodynamics and fluids. To say the least, this was not an enjoyable first experience with physics. If you have the oppertunity to take the other section by all means do so!!

I don't know a single student who enjoyed this class. Sciulli has a knack for making an unbearable subject like physics even more unbearable. His lectures are dull as stone. The highlight of the year is at the very beginning when he shoots down a falling stuffed monkey to demonstrate projectile motion - it's all downhill from there. He has no enthusiasm for teaching and this reflects in the rapidly diminishing attendance for the class. Expect to never have to fight for a seat.

"Those who can, do. Those who cannot, teach." That being said, Sciulli can apparently DO very well, as implied by his noted prowess as a physicist. As far as teaching is concerned... Please, as a message from the proverbial graveyard of physics students who were unfortunate enough to choose Sciulli, DON'T take his class. You won't learn anything, you'll be bored out of your skull, you'll become depressed because the homework are graded in such an arbitrary manner (ninety percent of the grade seems to lie in one randomly chosen problem from the set; all the others make up the rest)... and the curve is ridiculous. I guess I should be happy when my grade of 52 on a midterm is curved up to a B, but it just makes me sad; I did want to learn something about physics, o so long ago... I agree with the previous reviewer about the subject matter; it is all algebraic substitution; my friend tells me all the time about her wonderful physics class where they talk about fascinating theories. I can't do anything but grumble about my phony homework assignments, impossible tests and my exponentially decreasing desire to have anything to do with science.

I have nothing good to say about this class. The department and the course itself are awful. The workload is simply unmanagable. The only people who are successful in this class have either taken physics before or are excellent cheaters. What's the point of teaching a class for students who already know the material? You simply can't do this course without collaborating with other students on problem sets. If you can, you shouldn't be taking this course. The problem sets are extremely dificult. The problems SHOULD start off relatively simple and than become progressively more difficult. However, they are nearly impossible, right from the start. There is nowhere to get a foothold in the problem sets. They don't focus on understanding any CONCEPTS of physics, which is what you SHOULD be learning in an intro physics course, they only deal with endless algebraic substitution. So much so, that a math nerd can wanker through this course without learning ANY physics concepts. The department help room hours are pitiful. Don't expect any significant help there. Don't expect any feedback on your problem sets either. Our TA lackey, Michael Cheng, who graded our problem sets was awful. The problem set answers he provided online were totaly useless and explained nothing. His notes were very hard to follow and he really liked to skip as many steps as possible. It's the steps and process tha…

If you're taking this class, you're either a biochem major, a lazy SEAS student, or a premed who decided that you were too good for 1201. The class is definitely boring, and it's taught straight from the book. You're better off spending the time doing toe problem sets, which will really help you on the exams. Don't worry about missing class, because all the lectures are online (pointless, since they're straight out of the book anyway). Curve is centered at B+. There is no calculus involved, but having a previous physics background really helps. Overall, class is pretty easy.

Prof. Sciulli's class was an interesting experience. His lectures are straight out of the book, but very well put together. Attendence is not necessary, but he does go over some of the problem set questions in the problem sets in class. The tests are tricky but definitely doable, however dont be fooled by how easy the first midterm is because the second is much harder.

This professor is by far the most soporific being I have ever met. The class size was initially very high and as the semester progressed, only a few seats in the class were filled. The class features the topics which are briefly covered and the exams features problems which one has never seen, or has any oppurtunity to see how these problems are worked out. The physics is being taught by concepts whereas the exams are all application problems. Very frustrating and if there wasnt a curve, most of us would not pass the class.

Decent: One graded problem set a week consisting of 8-10 problems. Two midterms and a final all with an average mark of around a 50-60%.

Homework due every Wednesday, 2 midterms? 1 final.